Character recognition on a computing device

Abstract

In some embodiments, a device performs character recognition based on spatial and temporal components of touch input detected on a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, a device provides feedback about handwritten input and its recognition by the device. In some embodiments, a device presents a user interface for changing previously-inputted characters.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 generating a user interface for display on a display, wherein the user interface includes a gesture display region and a text entry region; 
 while the user interface is displayed on the display, receiving an indication of a first input that includes movement of a contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of a device, wherein a representation of the movement of the contact is displayed in the gesture display region while the movement of the contact is being detected; and 
 after receiving a completion of the movement of the contact in the first input, concurrently displaying:
 the representation of the movement of the contact in the gesture display region; and 
 a first candidate character that corresponds to the completed movement of the contact within an area of the text entry region. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while concurrently displaying the representation of the movement and the first candidate character, receiving a request to enter the first candidate character as a final character in the text entry region; and 
 in response to receiving the request to enter the first candidate character as the final character in the text entry region, entering the final character in the text entry region. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 in response to receiving the request to enter the first candidate character as the final character in the text entry region, ceasing to display the representation of the movement. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the final character is entered in a respective location in the text entry region, and 
 while receiving the indication of the first input that includes the movement of the contact and before receiving the completion of the movement of the contact in the first input, the respective location in the text entry region does not include a character. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while displaying the final character in the text entry region:
 receiving an indication of a second input that includes a second movement of a second contact detected on the touch-sensitive surface of the device, wherein a representation of the second movement is displayed in the gesture display region while the second movement of the second contact is being detected; and 
 after receiving a completion of the second movement of the second contact of the second input, concurrently displaying:
 the representation of the second movement of the second contact in the gesture display region; and 
 a second candidate character that corresponds to the completed movement of the contact within the area of the text entry region. 
 
 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the final character is a first final character, and 
 the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while concurrently displaying the representation of the second movement of the second contact and the second character, receiving a request to enter the second candidate character as a second final character in the text entry region; and 
 in response to receiving the request to enter the candidate second character as the second final character, entering the second final character adjacent to the first final character in the text entry region. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 after entering the final character in the area of the text entry region, shifting the gesture display region. 
 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 generating a user interface for display on a display, wherein the user interface includes a gesture display region and a text entry region; 
 while the user interface is displayed on the display, receiving an indication of a first input that includes movement of a contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of a device, wherein a representation of the movement of the contact is displayed in the gesture display region while the movement of the contact is being detected; and 
 after receiving a completion of the movement of the contact in the first input, concurrently displaying:
 the representation of the movement of the contact in the gesture display region; and 
 a first candidate character that corresponds to the completed movement of the contact within an area of the text entry region. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 while concurrently displaying the representation of the movement and the first candidate character, receiving a request to enter the first candidate character as a final character in the text entry region; and 
 in response to receiving the request to enter the first candidate character as the final character in the text entry region, entering the final character in the text entry region. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving the request to enter the first candidate character as the final character in the text entry region, ceasing to display the representation of the movement. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the final character is entered in a respective location in the text entry region, and 
 while receiving the indication of the first input that includes the movement of the contact and before receiving the completion of the movement of the contact in the first input, the respective location in the text entry region does not include a character. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 while displaying the final character in the text entry region:
 receiving an indication of a second input that includes a second movement of a second contact detected on the touch-sensitive surface of the device, wherein a representation of the second movement is displayed in the gesture display region while the second movement of the second contact is being detected; and 
 after receiving a completion of the second movement of the second contact of the second input, concurrently displaying:
 the representation of the second movement of the second contact in the gesture display region; and 
 a second candidate character that corresponds to the completed movement of the contact within the area of the text entry region. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the final character is a first final character, and 
 the method further comprises:
 while concurrently displaying the representation of the second movement of the second contact and the second candidate character, receiving a request to enter the second candidate character as a second final character in the text entry region; and 
 in response to receiving the request to enter the second candidate character as the second final character, entering the second final character adjacent to the first final character in the text entry region. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 after entering the final character in the area of the text entry region, shifting the gesture display region. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, the electronic device in communication with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, cause the electronic device to perform a method comprising:
 generating a user interface for display on the display, wherein the user interface includes a gesture display region and a text entry region; 
 while the user interface is displayed on the display, receiving an indication of a first input that includes movement of a contact detected on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein a representation of the movement of the contact is displayed in the gesture display region while the movement of the contact is being detected; and 
 after receiving a completion of the movement of the contact in the first input, concurrently displaying:
 the representation of the movement of the contact in the gesture display region; and 
 a first candidate character that corresponds to the completed movement of the contact within an area of the text entry region. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 while concurrently displaying the representation of the movement and the first candidate character, receiving a request to enter the first candidate character as a final character in the text entry region; and 
 in response to receiving the request to enter the first candidate character as the final character in the text entry region, entering the final character in the text entry region. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to receiving the request to enter the first candidate character as the final character in the text entry region, ceasing to display the representation of the movement. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the final character is entered in a respective location in the text entry region, and 
 while receiving the indication of the first input that includes the movement of the contact and before receiving the completion of the movement of the contact in the first input, the respective location in the text entry region does not include a character. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 while displaying the final character in the text entry region:
 receiving an indication of a second input that includes a second movement of a second contact detected on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein a representation of the second movement is displayed in the gesture display region while the second movement of the second contact is being detected; and 
 after receiving a completion of the second movement of the second contact of the second input, concurrently displaying:
 the representation of the second movement of the second contact in the gesture display region; and 
 a second candidate character that corresponds to the completed movement of the contact within the area of the text entry region. 
 
 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the final character is a first final character, and 
 the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while concurrently displaying the representation of the second movement of the second contact and the second character, receiving a request to enter the second candidate character as a second final character in the text entry region; and 
 in response to receiving the request to enter the second candidate character as the second final character, entering the second final character adjacent to the first final character in the text entry region. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 after entering the final character in the area of the text entry region, shifting the gesture display region.